Central Virginia PDC staff is working closely with Town of Bedford officials and citizens to create a Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan specific to the Town. The Plan will provide a prioritized guide to the Town’s governing body on improving bicycling and walking throughout the Town. The implementation of the plan will contribute to a healthier,
safer, and dynamic community. The Town of Bedford’s Comprehensive Plan—adopted in June of 2017—made the key recommendation for the development of a Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan to help identify existing and potential infrastructure such as sidewalks, greenways, and multimodal pathways. In addition, the comprehensive plan sets forth the ambitious goal of examining its ability to install sidewalks on every public street. Excluding the road segments associated with US460—a strictly motorized vehicle road--37% of the Town’s public streets presently have sidewalk infrastructure. This remarkable percentage proves that pedestrian facilities have been identified as intrinsic elements of the Town’s transportation network in the past.
This project included an extensive community input phase through a public survey and public meeting as well as an analysis of existing conditions. The prioritized recommendations presented in the final plan will improve the walking and bicycling capacity and connectivity throughout the Town of Bedford and increase transportation options to residents of all ages. These investments will provide a prioritized guide for local officials to build upon the robust sidewalk network that Town citizens already enjoy. The plan is set to be adopted in the Spring of 2019. Please refer any questions or comments to Philipp Gabathuler (philipp.gabathuler@cvpdc.org).
